Nigeria, Dec. 27 -- As Nigeria inches toward the 2027 presidential election, a growing number of citizens and commentators are questioning whether the process will genuinely offer voters a meaningful choice or merely rehearse a foregone conclusion. At the heart of this skepticism is a deep mistrust of institutions meant to guarantee fairness, neutrality, and justice in the democratic process.

Critics point to what they see as an unprecedented concentration of power around the presidency. They argue that key state institutions responsible for elections, security, and adjudication are headed by officials appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, many of whom are politically aligned with him. This perception is enough to erode public confid...